2012.06.18 Monday Morning Message

Greetings and best wishes from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church in Vinita, Oklahoma.

"Prayer doesn't work for me," said a friend last week, "and, I've given up praying."  Sound familiar?  A great many people stop praying because they think it doesn't work.  Perhaps they have the wrong idea about praying.

Prayer is not God doing things for us, it is God helping us to do things for ourselves.  Prayer does not change circumstances which face us, but prayer does enable us to confront those circumstances with new strength and courage.  Prayer helps us to meet our difficulties in a new way.

God listens to our prayers at any time of day or night.  Prayer should not be practiced only in times of crisis and emergency, but in our everyday life.  "Help me to help others" is a good prayer to remember.

With blessings and in friendship,

Richard




Kitty sent in this quote from Theodore Roosevelt

"Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care."

2012.03.26 Monday Morning Message

Greetings and best wishes from the Pilgrim Presbyterian Church in the heart of Vinita, Oklahoma.  


We want to KEEP IN TOUCH with our members and friends with our Monday Morning Messages.  We have asked them to send it to their friends, if they find the message worth sharing...that may be the reason you are reading this.

If you write me, with a prayer request, please be assured that I'll personally respond.

With blessings and all good wishes,

Richard

"For want of a nail, the shoe was lost.

For the want of a shoe, the horse was lost..."

and so on.  The loss of the horse led to the 

loss of the rider, the battle, and finally

the kingdom itself.  All for want of a nail.

And, the meaning of this simple poem is

PAY ATTENTION TO LITTLE THINGS!

Little things have triggered great discoveries!

a spider's web and a suspension bridge

a singing tea kettle and a steam engine

a falling apple and the law of gravity.

Little things may have great consequences!

PAY ATTENTION TO THE LITTLE THINGS!

EASTER BRUNCH

FOLLOWING MORNING WORSHIP PALM SUNDAY, APRIL 1

COME AND ENJOY THE FELLOWSHIP

ALL FOOD IS PROVIDED

One Great Hour of Sharing Offering will be taken

2011.9.12 Monday Morning!

Top of the morning from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church in Vinita, Oklahoma.

After Jesus, perhaps the best known New Testament character is Peter.  We think of him as a gregarious, outgoing man of action.  He was out in front of the other disciples who accepted him as a leader. Yet, like all of us, Peter had his weaknesses.

The low point in his life came the night of Jesus' arrest when he denied knowing his Master.  We might have done the same thing in similar circumstances.  The instinct to survive is strong.   There is no telling how a person will react in a critical situation.

Peter was only one among many Bible heroes to default.  Moses became a fugitive on the run after he murdered an Egyptian and then fled the country.  David was an adulterer and also an accessory to murder.  The Apostle Paul, before his conversion, presided over a lynch mob.

We live in an imperfect world and no one is an angel.  We live battered lives and we are often sorry for things we do and say, and, like Peter, Moses, David and Paul, we are given a second chance - all by the grace of God.

With blessings and in friendship,
Richard

2011.9.05 Monday Morning!

Greetings and best wishes from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church in Vinita, Oklahoma. 

Since Brian Dishman, a son of Pilgrim Church, set up our BLOG I've received numerous messages, a few from strangers, more from "old time friends." It is always good (and encouraging) to get responses (favorable or unfavorable) to our MONDAY MORNING messages.

I had a good laugh reading the following, and I hope it will put a smile on your face, too.

A teenage boy had just gotten his driver's license and asked his Dad if they could discuss the use of the family car. His Dad said he'd make a deal.  "You bring your grades from 'C' to 'B' average, study your Bible a little, and get your hair cut, and then we'll talk about the car"

The young man thought for a moment before deciding to go for the offer. After a couple of months, the Dad said "Son, you've brought up your grades and I've been watching you studying your Bible, but I'm a little disappointed that you haven't had your hair cut yet."

The son looked at his Dad and said "You know, Dad, I've been thinking about that. I've noticed in my Bible studies that Samson had long hair, John the Baptist had long hair, and I've seen pictures of Jesus with long hair."

To which the Father replied, "And did you also notice that everywhere they went they walked!"

Humor is an important part of a full life.


Blessings,

Richard

2011.6.06 Monday Morning!

Greetings and best wishes from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church!

Still going strong at the corner of Thompson and Illinois, in the heart of Vinita, Oklahoma. Our Sunday service begins at 10 a.m....you'll be welcome, if you can attend. If you can't be with us, please say a little prayer for us. We do remember you, our MONDAY MORNING FAMILY, in our thoughts and prayers.

Here is a "Pearl of Value" which comes from one of our church members:

"Knowledge is not likely to enter the head

when the mouth is open."

God endowed us with two ears but only one mouth. Yet, for most of us, the ears are in semi-retirement while the mouth is overworked. There is a great deal of talking, even shouting, but very little listening.

Listening is not easy. Listening with the whole person requires discipline, patience and caring.

When God appeared to King Solomon in a vision , and offered him any gift he wishes, Solomon asked for "a listening heart." Listening is not done alone with ears, it is also done with the heart."

Fondest Regards,
Richard